“Noooo!!!!”

That was my initial reaction after learning that Microsoft was ending the Microsoft Money product line. The company announced today that Money Plus will not be available for purchase after June 30th, 2009 and that all purchased Money Plus products need to be activated prior to January 31st, of 2011. 

Why end Microsoft Money? At the end of the day, it’s all about sales. Money has always trailed Intuit’s Quicken application in terms of market share and as more of the world moves to web-centric solutions (like Mint.com), Money has become more and more irrelevant in the personal finance management sector.

Here’s what Microsoft had to say on their Money homepage:

“With banks, brokerage firms and Web sites now providing a range of options for managing personal finances, the consumer need for Microsoft Money Plus has changed. After suspending annual updates of Money Plus in 2008, Microsoft is announcing today that we will no longer offer Microsoft Money Plus for purchase after June 30, 2009.

We would like to thank the many dedicated users who have been enthusiastic supporters of Microsoft Money over the years, as well as our partner financial institutions who helped pioneer a digital vision of financial management.

Microsoft remains committed to helping customers chart a course to financial well-being. The MSN Money Web site will continue to provide personal finance information and advice plus comprehensive market news and quotes. We will continue to evolve and enhance the online MSN offering in the coming months.“

It’s still a sad day for me as I’ve been a long-time faithful user of Microsoft Money since back in 1997. I suppose I’ll finally have to move to Quicken..

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Money